Knob mechanism for gas cooktop

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11788730-B2
Application number	US-202217681222-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 25, 2022
Priority date	Feb 25, 2022
Publication date	Oct 17, 2023
Grant date	Oct 17, 2023

Abstract

A knob assembly for a gas cooktop may include a knob configured to control a flow of gas from a burner of a cooktop starting at a resting position, the knob defining a hollow interior and having a support cylinder extending vertically through the hollow interior, wherein the support cylinder includes a projection flap protruding therefrom, an inner lock ring arranged at least partially within the hollow interior of the knob and having a chamfered region defining a ring opening adjacent an inclined portion, where the opening is configured to selectively receive the projection flap in response to depression of the knob and where the projection flap slides along the inclined portion in response to subsequent rotation of the knob, the inclined portion imparting frictional resistance on the projection flap to prevent against unintentional rotation of the knob.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A knob assembly for a gas cooktop, comprising:
a knob configured to control a flow of gas from a burner of a cooktop starting at a resting position, the knob defining a hollow interior and having a support cylinder extending vertically through the hollow interior, wherein the support cylinder includes a projection flap protruding therefrom; and
an inner lock ring arranged at least partially within the hollow interior of the knob and having a chamfered region defining a ring opening adjacent a sloped incline portion, where the opening is configured to selectively receive the projection flap in response to depression of the knob and where the projection flap slides along the incline portion of the inner lock ring in response of subsequent rotation of the knob, the incline portion imparting a torque resistance, due to spring action, on the inner lock to prevent against unintentional rotation of the knob.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , where the incline portion extends between the ring opening and a stop, the stop configured to abut the projection flap and rotate the inner lock ring in response to rotation of the projection flap.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a bezel configured to receive at least a portion of the ring and at least a portion of the knob, and defining a base surrounded by a lip.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the lip is configured to surround an outer periphery of the knob and define a recessed portion.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , a spring arranged in the recessed portion of the base and configured to impart a bias force against the inner lock ring to maintain the ring in the resting position when the projection flap is not arranged within the ring opening.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the spring is configured to increase the reaction between the inclined portion of the inner lock ring and the inclined portion of the projection flap.

7. The assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a cover having a center support configured to receive the inner lock ring therein, the cover arranged within the bezel and configured to maintain the spring in the recessed portion.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , where the center support includes a cover opening configured to align with the ring opening for receiving the projection flap.

9. The assembly of claim 7 , where the center support has a cover chamfered region having the incline portion.

10. The assembly of claim 7 , where the cover includes a plurality of arcs around an outer perimeter configured to engage with a notch arranged on the base of the cover to maintain the cover in a fixed position relative to the base so that the inner lock ring rotates in response to the knob rotating while cover maintains a fixed position on the bezel.

11. A knob assembly for a gas cooktop, comprising:
a knob configured to control a flow of gas from a burner of a cooktop starting at a resting position, the knob defining a hollow interior and a projection flap protruding therefrom, the projection flap configured to move vertically and rotationally with the knob; and
an inner lock ring arranged at least partially within the hollow interior of the knob and having a chamfered region defining a ring opening adjacent a sloped incline portion, the opening configured to selectively receive the projection flap in response to depression of the knob and where the projection flap slides along the incline portion in response to subsequent rotation of the knob, the incline portion creating an intermediate position for the knob to prevent against unintentional rotation of the knob.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , where the incline portion extends between the ring opening and a stop, the stop configured to abut the projection flap and rotate the inner lock ring in response to continued rotation of the projection flap.

13. The assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a bezel configured to receive at least a portion of the ring and at least a portion of the knob, and defining a base surrounded by a lip.

14. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the lip is configured to surround an outer periphery of the knob and defines a recessed portion.

15. The assembly of claim 14 , a spring arranged in the recessed portion of the base and configured to impart a bias force against the inner lock ring to maintain the ring in the resting position when the projection flap is not arranged within the incline portion of the ring.

16. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the spring is configured to impart and increase frictional resistance between the projection flap and the incline portion.

17. The assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a cover having a center support configured to receive the inner lock ring therein, the cover arranged within the bezel and configured to maintain the spring in the recessed portion.

18. The assembly of claim 17 , where the center support includes a cover opening configured to align with the ring opening for receiving the projection flap.

19. The assembly of claim 17 , where the central support has a cover chamfered region having an incline portion.

20. The assembly of claim 17 , where the cover includes a plurality of arcs around an outer perimeter configured to engage with a notch arranged on the base of the cover to maintain the cover in a fixed position relative to the base so that the inner lock ring rotates in response to the knob rotating while the cover maintains a fixed position on the bezel.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Daufenbach Rhony Cristian
• Schultz Rodrigo
• Tamanini Rodrigo

Classifications

• F24C3/126 Primary

  on ranges · CPC title

• F23N1/007

  using mechanical means (F23N1/04 - F23N1/10 take precedence) · CPC title

• F23N2237/00

  Controlling · CPC title

• F23N2241/08

  Household apparatus · CPC title

• F24C7/085 Primary

  on baking ovens · CPC title